Jake Lloyd's the charm in Sydney Swans' winning streak

Adam Pengilly

Jake Lloyd reckons the wins and losses ''come with football''. In that respect, he has only ever known one-half of the game he took so long to establish himself in.

Forgive coach John Longmire for never earmarking the Swans rookie for the selection axe ever again. Since forcing his way into the senior side, the 20-year-old has been somewhat of a lucky charm for the premiership favourites.

Established: Jake Lloyd has become a lucky charm for the Swans. Photo: Getty Images

The Victorian-raised midfielder burst into the senior side in round five – the same week Sydney were being battered from pillar to post after a lacklustre 1-3 start to the season.

Since then? Lloyd has featured in 16 straight games – only one of which Sydney has tasted defeat in, a round-18 cliffhanger against Hawthorn.

Lucky charm he may be, but Lloyd's winning run has been set in stone for years. He won four straight flags with the Horsham Demons, one of Adam Goodes' old clubs, after breaking into their senior side as a raw-boned teenager.

And he was a key member of the Swans' reserves side which won the NEAFL premiership last year.

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''It started five years ago with Horsham Demons, who are my local club back home,'' Lloyd said of the uncanny winning sequence he has been central to.

''I was only 15 years old at the time and I was fortunate enough to get a game in the senior side that year. Similar to this year, I was be able to hold my position and play in a premiership.

''I don't want to think too far ahead, but I've been pretty lucky the past few years and we'll take each week as it comes and see what happens. That's what comes with football – the wins and losses – but obviously I know the song pretty well.''

But as easy as winning has seem to come to Lloyd, he has also taken his fair share of knocks to land on a senior AFL list.

''I missed out my first year and then I was fortunate enough to get a second chance at the North Ballarat Rebels as an over-age player and then missed out again in the national draft,'' Lloyd said. ''I was grateful for the chance Sydney gave me in the rookie draft in 2012.

''I really wanted to work hard and it was always my dream to play AFL football. I didn't want to think too much about [not making it] and I wanted to keep working hard to give myself the best opportunity by doing all the little things – doing extra training.

''I've always been told at the Swans to bide my time and I would get an opportunity. I did that last year and I did that this year, and I was fortunate enough to get the chance in round five and I've looked to cement my spot since.

''To play one game of AFL football would have been really nice, and it's happened now, and it's something I'm very happy about.''

That one game has translated into a whole handful now under Longmire as round-21's nomination for the Rising Star award keeps a host of more battle-hardened Swans languishing in reserves.

Lloyd remembers coming into the side after they had made a nervy start to the year and was happy to be included anywhere, even if it meant donning the substitute's vest.

''The club copped a bit of criticism about it, which was disappointing, but the boys really wanted to work hard and get the season back on track,'' Lloyd said. ''The team itself really wanted to turn it around, and for me to be a part of it is really special.

''To come in when the team was down, contribute and get our season back on track with the guys was really good.''